Winsted's Hinsdale School rehab progressing but taking longer than expected

WINSTED >> Replacing some of the doors at Hinsdale Elementary School will take longer than the town has given Winchester's school district, but according to superintendent of schools Thomas Danehy, the project is progressing.

Several of the school's doors need to be replaced at town fire marshal Steve Williams's behest, and the project was a point of contention at the most recent town budget negotiations. Winsted eventually agreed to roll some of the project's cost into the municipal budget, but the district has not yet compiled all the needed information to put the project out to bid. According to Danehy, that information should arrive within the week.

"Our goal is to end up with a happy fire marshal," said board member Richard Dutton.

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Originally, the district was issued a 21-item citation on Aug. 29, one day before the start of the 2012-13 school year. The citation gave the district 30 days to comply with Williams's order, but that time frame does not allow for all of the proper work. The district could get a reprieve if it can show progress to Williams, though, and their request for Williams's feedback on the project is meant to do that. The district already received one 30-day extension, while the citation was whittled down to 10 items.

"We need to show that we're making progress with the project," said business manager Nadine Savage.

Several of the doors need to be replaced for a variety of reasons. Three sets of doors to the gymnasium and cafeteria need to be replaced, according to Savage, although the frames are not a problem. Two other sets of doors near the Hinsdale Avenue entrance to the school need to be replaced as well, as the glass-to-door ratio is above permissible levels.

"Other than that," Savage said, "it's a matter of whether or not the doors have asbestos in them."

If any other doors in the building have asbestos and need to be replaced, the hardware would have to be replaced as well as the doors. That could exceed the town's share of the project under the most recent municipal budget proposal, as Savage said the town assumed the doors would not have to be replaced if the hardware is changed.

"Let's say it was encouraging that the town stepped up and did the doors," said board chair Susan Hoffnagle.